Ozuna & Yelich

[klaiggeb]

I did some Strat-O-Matic research on Ozuna and Yelich, and this is how they have been rated over the last 3 years:

Ozuna: an average defender in LF, RF, & CF with a -3 arm.

What that "-3" means is very, very good.

Clemente had the best ranked arm I've ever seen at -6

Mays was -5

Mantle -2


Yelich was rated an outstanding defender in LF (a "1" on a "5" scale), and an average defender in CF.

His arm was rated +1... which is not even as good as Hunter Pence's arm.

They run on +1's all the time.

Neither is a CF, but it would 'appear' that Ozuna can fill the RF hole at least as well as Stanton, and Ozuna is ranked as faster. 2 clicks faster.

Stanton was ranked as 'average,' a 1-12, Ozuna above average at 1-14. In Strat, THAT is significant.

boly

[Islandboagie]

I'd love to see Yelich in a Giants uniform. I said from the beginning I'd rather have him over Stanton. He'd fit nicely between Panik and Posey in the lineup. But as far as I know the Marlins aren't interested in trading him.

[klaiggeb]

I actually heard that they said they would entertain offers, boagie.

Not sure where I saw it, but it was about 2 weeks back.

boly

[rog]

I think the Marlins are open to offers for either outfielder.

Ozuna is faster than Stanton, but I'm not sure he is quite as good an overall fielder. Ozuna could probably play center field, but he would be below average there. His arm as you mention, Boly, might be up there with Stanton's.

As for Yelich, I think he would fare well at the plate for the Giants. He's a ground ball hitter, so he doesn't have a lot of power to lose anyway. His spray chart suggests he would indeed lose homers (and his 39 the past two seasons isn't bad and in fact would be GOOD for a Giant), but he also would likely hit a lot of triples.

He looks like an excellent left fielder. He has the speed for center field, but he simply hasn't played nearly as well there. One would think he would see the ball better in center, but apparently that isn't the case with Christian. Although it would be an improvement over Denard Span, Yelich has a weak arm.

Yelich looks like a more than solid hitter who would fare much better in left field. He could probably hold down center until Duggar is ready, but he's suited for left field. His arm would be badly overmatched in right.

He's under team control for four more seasons at a fair price, and he just turned 26. I wouldn't think the Marlins would want to trade him, but I have seen his name bandied about. Christian would be another lefty hitter for the Giants, but he's a darn good player. He can steal a base. Play a very good left field. Hit, although not with a lot of power for a corner outfielder.

If the Marlins are willing to trade him, the Giants would do well to be very interested. With Yelich in left and Duggar in center, the pair should be able to cover a lot of ground. If the Giants could somehow get BOTH Yelich and Ozuna, they would likely have a pretty good outfield soon.

I would give up Ramos in order to get BOTH of them. I'm not sure if the Giants have enough more to add to get both though. Maybe if they allowed Panik to be in the deal. I'd give up ANY of the young pitchers.

[rog]

I don't feel either Yelich or Ozuna is a center fielder. Yelich can play left quite well, and Ozuna can play either corner, being better in right field, where his arm can be better utilized.

[rog]

In this year's Fielding Bible Awards, Ozuna ranked #3 in left field, while Yelich garnered nary a vote in center.

[rog]

I guess we finally swung Boly against signing Stanton, Boagie. You were more adamantly against Stanton than I, but I didn't like the risk/reward brought on by the opt out.

I'm with you guys on Yelich and Ozuna though. Except that he bats left-handed, I really like Yelich. As a hitter, he kind of grows on you. Yelich by he way has a .290 career batting average and a .369 OBP. If the Giants had a better middle of the order, he could lead off.

[rog]

Regarding Stratomatic, Boly, do they rank Yelich ahead of Ozuna for speed? He's faster than Ozuna, who is faster than Stanton. Stanton is around average, while Ozuna is above-average and Yelich has plus speed.

Arguably the biggest shocker among ALL major leaguers is that catcher J.T. Realmuto is nearly as fast as Yelich. That isn't to say that Yelich is at all slow. It's just that Realmuto is EXTREMELY fast for a catcher. Last season Realmuto would have tied Gorkys Hernandez as the fastest Giant.

Regarding Yelich, he seems to have the speed for center field, but not the ability to get to the ball as well as would be desired, and his arm isn't close.

[klaiggeb]

Yelich is rate 1-15, which is VERY good.

Mays and Mantle were 1-17, by way of comparison.

boly

[rxmeister]

I don’t want Yelich, because he’s yet another lefty in a lineup that has too many of them, and he’s not the answer for a team that needs a big time power hitting corner outfielder. Wait till the Belt haters see him and realize Yelich isn’t nearly as good as Belt is. Ozuna is the obvious choice to me, but the Cardinals want him badly and have better prospects. Perhaps taking on Martin Prado’s contract would facilitate an Ozuna deal. And unlike most teams who would have no use for Prado, he could be the Giants starting third baseman.

[klaiggeb]

I don't want Prado.

Not enough power for what we need, and he's a base clogger. We have enough of them now.

boly

[rog]

Very good point about Yelich, Mark. Maybe the Giants need to pick up more right-handed hitters, since a guy like Yelich would provide speed and defense and might not be too badly hurt by AT&T. Most of his homers go to the right side, but he actually hits the ball in the air more often to left.

But Yelich likely isn't a good idea. Which leads us back to Ozuna.

As for Prado, he hit the ball hard less than 20% of the time last season and may be pretty much done. Strikeout percentage and walk percentage were well of his career norms, as well. Small sample, but just a horrible season.